Development 6 - 9 Months

Child Development 6 - 9 Months

Each child develops at their own pace, usually through the same stages or milestones in about the same order. Children grow and learn continually, but not in a smooth flowing pattern. Sometimes they practice skills for quite a while and seem as if they will never move on. Other times they learn many skills very quickly.
Understanding your child’s developing abilities and what they can and cannot do at each age will help you to:
   • keep your child safe;
   • help your child develop;
   • understand your child’s behaviour;
   • gain satisfaction and enjoyment from the important role of caring for your child.

Growth and development

From six to nine months babies are never idle. They have the need to handle and explore things so they can learn more about their surroundings. Everything goes into their mouth, even their feet. At this age they:
   • grasp objects on sight;
   • focus on near and far objects and follow them across a room;
   • start trying to crawl.

By nine months

Babies will:
   • explore everything within reach;
   • search in the correct place for hidden objects;
   • watch toys fall from the pram or highchair onto the floor;
   • learn to roll easily from tummy to back and then back to tummy;
   • try to reach an interesting toy or object;
   • learn to sit without support;
   • enjoy trying to eat with their fingers; start drinking from a cup (spilling is common).

Your baby and other people

Over the months, babies have learned a lot about the people around them. Between six and nine months
they:
   • recognise people they see everyday;
   • are wary of strangers and less familiar people;
   • will cry if their mother is out of sight even for a short time. They cannot understand that she has not left forever. Games like peek-a- boo help teach babies that people and things exist even when they are not seen.
This is a normal stage in your child’s development as they are beginning to know the difference between familiar and unfamiliar people.

Learning through play

Between six and nine months babies develop further skills which they use when they play.
These are:
   • making sounds, e.g. shaking rattles, crumpling paper, high pitched squealing, laughing, joining sounds together (ma-ma, da-da) and imitating noises they hear;
   • handling and exploring toys and household objects, e.g. passing them from hand to hand, beginning to pick up small objects between finger and thumb, and mouthing objects. This helps them learn about warmth, coldness, roughness, smoothness, softness, hardness and smell;
   • making music, e.g. singing and rocking in time to music, imitating actions to songs and nursery rhymes, and clapping and bouncing routines; looking at books. Babies cannot concentrate for long, but they love looking at the pictures and spending time with you talking about them.

Remember to:
- choose a book that is not easily torn;
- has bright clear colours; and
- has only one simple object on each page;
• making conversation. This means listening to your baby and trying to understand their messages, as well as you talking to your baby. The more you talk to your baby and respond to their attempts at communicating, the easier it will be for your baby to develop language skills.

Toys

It is important to select toys that are safe for your child. Check that:
   • toys with small or loose parts are kept Out of reach;
   • dangling ribbons or elastic are removed;
   • eyes in all toys are secure;
   • squeakers in soft toys cannot be removed;
   • teething rings and rattles cannot come apart;
   • there are no sharp edges or points;
   • paint is lead free. (In Australia and the U. K. only lead-free paints are used.);
   • all toys are inspected regularly for damage.

Safety

Children from six to nine months become very mobile as their need to explore and learn about the world increases.
Keep your child safe by removing as many hazards as possible before accidents occur.
• Always place your child in an approved child restraint every time you go in the car.
   • Always restrain your child in a highchair, shopping trolley or stroller.
   • Use safety barriers for steps, stairs and rooms you don’t want your child to enter.
   • Always stay with your child during bath time and pool play.
   • Avoid giving your child small pieces of hard foods such as nuts, apples and carrots.
   • Keep kettle and iron cords out of reach of young children.
   • Keep hot drinks out of children’s reach.
   • Cover power points when not in use.
   • Check for small object (e.g. pins), before placing your baby on the floor.
   • Store medicines, cleaning aids, and any sharp or dangerous items in a cupboard with a childproof latch.
   • Keep the toilet door closed and nappy buckets out of reach as small children can fall into them headfirst.
   • Keep the bathroom door closed so your child cannot touch hot taps.

For more help and information
If you would like more information on your child’s development or you are worried about your child, contact your local child health nurse.
You could also ask at your local library for books on child development.